Eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s has been considered good luck for more than 1,500 years. It's also been a Jewish custom to eat these particular legumes in celebration of Rosh Hashanah, which is the Jewish New Year. These fiber-packed peas also symbolize humility and a lack of vanity (who knew?!).
Obviously, most people associate good luck with monetary gain...where is where eating greens with your black-eyed peas comes in! The most common veggies to mix with your good luck beans are:
- turnip greens
- mustard greens
- collard greens (these are our fave)
Pork is a staple of just about every Southern meal, so it’s usually cooked with the black-eyed peas. The pork (especially when you use our delicious HoneyBaked Ham ) seems to be in recipes mainly for flavor rather than symbolism... but many people believe that because pigs root forward when foraging, the pork represents positive motion.
Enjoy this delicious HoneyBaked Ham & Black-Eyed Pea Soup with Greens this New Year's Day:
In a 4 quart saucepan heat and cook until tender:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion
- 1 garlic clove
Add:
- 1/2 pound collard greens (stems removed and leaves finely
chopped)
- 2 cups of low-sodium chicken stock
- 2 cups water
- 1 small, finely minced jalapeño pepper (optional)
- 1 small knuckle from a HoneyBaked Ham bone,
with the meat removed from the bone (approx. 3/4 to 1 cup)
Simmer until greens are tender (about 20 minutes).
Meanwhile, rinse and drain:
- a 16 oz. can of black-eyed peas (or about 1 1/2 cups frozen and thawed). Mash half of them with the back of a spoon and add all to the soup mixture.
Add:
-1 medium tomato, diced
Simmer for 5 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper
Stir in:
- 1 teaspoon cider vinegar
- a dash of hot sauce (optional)
Serve & enjoy (serves 2) your HoneyBaked Ham & Black-Eyed Pea Soup with Greens.
Here's to good luck and great fortune in 2017! --Your HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville Crew
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